Herpetology - Bonn

Amphibians & Reptiles

The Herpetology Section specialises in amphibians and reptiles from all over the world, but mainly from Europe, Africa, South America, the Middle East and South-East Asia.

Research focuses on taxonomy, diversity, auto-/synoecology, macro-ecology, species conservation, biogeography, species distribution modelling, evolution and phylogenetics.

The constantly growing scientific collection, which currently comprises > 110,000 specimens, is curated by PD Dr Dennis Rödder and Dr Claudia Koch.

Both curators are involved in university teaching and offer seminars, block modules, and excursions for the BSc Biology and OEP MSc degree programmes at the University of Bonn. Final theses (Bachelor/Master) and PhD theses are also supervised.

Innovative methods in morphology, taxonomy, and systematics

Every year, several hundred new amphibian and reptile species are described worldwide. The LIB makes an important contribution to this; since its foundation, type material of more than 700 taxa has been deposited in our section, including over 350 primary types (i.e. holo-, lecto-, and neotypes) and almost 100 syntypes. To identify new species, we use state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques (genetics, genomics, phylogenetics) as well as computer-aided imaging techniques such as µCT-based 3D reconstructions.

Computer-aided analyses in biogeography, evolutionary ecology, and conservation research

We investigate the effects of climate and land-use changes on different time scales, from currently observable distribution shifts and rather short-term distribution dynamics of (invasive) species (several years to decades) to evolutionary adaptations during speciation (several million years). Amphibians and reptiles are particularly suitable for this purpose, as they are highly dependent on environmental factors. Special attention has always been paid to the search for causal ecological mechanisms that determine distribution and abundance patterns in relation to environmental factors. We use the knowledge gained to make forecasts for the future and to become involved in international nature conservation.

Teaching programmes

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Supervision of project work and theses

Bachelor Biology OEP Biology Master PhD programme

OEP-A23 Advanced Bioinformatics in Phylogenetics, Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity research:
- Introduction to Scientific Programming in R (seminar/exercise)
- Introduction to GIS / species distribution modelling (seminar/exercise)
OEP-B30 Advanced Course in Combining Field and Lab Techniques and Methods in Organismic Biology, Evolutionary Biology or Paleobiology
OEP-C02 / WBIO-F-02: Zoogeography and ecology of marine organisms in tropical habitats (with an excursion to the Red Sea, Dahab/Egypt) (Seminar/Excursion)
OEP-C07 Biodiversity of the Tropics, with a Field Trip to Ecuador (Seminar/Excursion)
OEP-B16 Evolution, and Biodiversity of Lower Vertebrates (block course)
OEP-B19 Patterns and Processes Shaping Biodiversity (Seminar)
WBIO-E-01 Free practical courses for BSc Biology

Related collections

Herpetological Collection, Museum Koenig Bonn

Dr. Claudia Koch

Curator Herpetology
Radiation Protection Officer

Phone: +49 228 9122 234
E-Mail: c.koch@leibniz-lib.de

PD Dr. Dennis Rödder

Head of Section Herpetology

Phone: +49 228 9122 252
E-Mail: d.roedder@leibniz-lib.de

["English"] WCH10 — International networking: Members of Herpetology Bonn at the 10th World Congress of Herpetology in Borneo

["English"] Digitales Museum — We use big data and analyze evolutionary and biogeographical patterns

["English"] Polychrus peruvianus — Peruvian Bush Anole (Polychrus peruvianus)

["English"] Epictia antoniogarciai — The blind snake species Epictia antoniogarciai was discovered in 2015 in Cajamarca, Peru by researchers from the Museum Koenig

["English"] Liotyphlops beui — µCT scan of the head of a blind snake (Liotyphlops beui)

Projects

All projects

Angel Shark Project
Management: Eva Meyers, PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
Macroecology and biogeography: effects of changing climates on biodiversity
Management: PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
Mapping the Decline: Elucidate the Diversity of Threatened Brazilian Amphibians
Management: PD Dr. Dennis Rödder, Dr. Elvis Almeida Pereira Silva
DD-GAP: Evaluation of knowlege gaps for developing One Plan Approach strategies and solutions
Management: PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
Evolution of the gecko's adhesive toes
Management: PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
Provenance research at the Museum Koenig
Management: Dr. André Koch

Publications

Complete list of publications since 2011

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2026

2026/08
Kaiser, H., Zdunek, P.
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Air conditioning units as death traps for introduced Common House Geckos, Hemidactylus frenatus Duméril & Bibron, 1836, on Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, with a discussion of impacts
Discover Life, 1, 56
2026/08
Ha, L.T.T., Nguyen, T.H., Nguyen, T.V., Pham, C.T., Phan, T.Q., Nguyen, T.Q., Tran, D.V., Ziegler, T., Rödder, D., Ngo, H.N.
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Projected contraction of climatically suitable habitat for the forest-specialist anuran Quasipaa acanthophora under climate change in northern Vietnam
Herpetozoa, 39
2026/08
Sá Sampaio, M., Almeida, S., Madeira, F., Neves, R., Rödder, D., Sousa, M., Rebelo, R.
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From widespread invasion to isolated refugia: progress towards eradication of Xenopus laevis in Portugal
2026/08
Böhme, W., Mutz, T.
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In dubio pro Salamandra. On the generic allocation of Laurenti’s (1768) Proteus tritonius (Caudata: Salamandridae): Response to Gollman & Gollmann (2026)
Salamandra, 3, 62
2026/08
Cota, M., Kaiser, H.
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Some observations on communal nesting, nest-guarding, parental care, social organisation, and territoriality in wild Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758) in Thailand
Herpetology Notes, 19
2026/08
Kaiser, I.M., Kaiser, C., Kaiser, H.
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From myths to metrics: a preliminary new look at measuring coiled, preserved snakes
Herpetology Notes, 19
2026/08
Kedzier-Hurst, R., Kaiser, H.
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Tails of two tips: first reports of tail furcations in a dozen Australian skink species, with the description of a highly unusual tail duplication morphology in Carlia longipes (Macleay, 1877)
Herpetology Notes, 19
2026/07
Miguel, A.R., Kaiser, H., Briers-Louw, W.D., Kendon, T.A., Ngalijuane, D.A., dos Santos, T.G.
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Fisherman’s trash, cobra’s treasure: first evidence of scavenging by a Brown Forest Cobra, Naja subfulva Laurent, 1955, in Mozambique
Herpetology Notes, 19
2026/06
Schwarze, M., Schulz, M., Sielenkämper, J., Ott, D., Rödder, D., Scherber, C.
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Anteil dunkelgrau gefärbter Kreuzottern von 2010–2024 in einem Moor in Nordwestdeutschland. Feldherpetologisches Magazin
Feldherpetologisches Magazin, 23
2026/06
Böhme, W.
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Zur mythologischen Symbolik des Weißstorches – und warum der Göttervater Zeus sich anders entschied. – Koenigiana 20: 29–36.
2026/06
Böhme, W.
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Erneut gefragt: Was ist Kryptozoologie? Entdeckungen neuer Arten oder Merkmale, die indigenen oder gar antiken Hinweisgebern längst bekannt waren. - Koenigiana 20: 3-22.
Koenigiana, 20
2026/06
Miguel, A.R., Kaiser, H., Briers‐Louw, W.D., Kendon, T.A., Ngalijuane, D.A., dos Santos, T.G.
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Arboreal Duels in a Shared Niche: Direct Observations of Vinesnake ( Thelotornis mossambicanus ) Predation on Chameleons ( Chamaeleo dilepis ) Reveal Complex Foraging Dynamics
African journal of ecology, 4, 64
2026/06
Assou, D., GNIMASSOUN, J.B.G., AHOEDO, K., AKOETEY, C.Y.M., DENDI, D., AULIYA, M., , ., KETOH, G.K.K., SEGNIAGBETO, G.H., LUISELLI, L., MORITZ, T.
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Trends in catch and effort in Western African coastal lagoon system fisheries and their socio-economic implications
Environmental Research Communications, 8
2026/05
Jablonski, D., Tillack, F., Mahlow-Tillack, K., Petzold, A., Wilzo, M., Das, A., Idrees, M., Baniya, C.B., Masroor, R., Hofmann, S.
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Integrative taxonomy reveals previously undescribed diversity within the Gloydius himalayanus complex (Squamata, Viperidae, Crotalinae) from the Himalaya and Hindu Kush
ZooKeys, 1280
2026/05
Barrio-Amorós, C.L., Aviles, D., Vargas, J., Kaiser, H.
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Ocular anomaly in a Blue-sided Treefrog, Agalychnis annae (Amphibia: Anura: Phyllomedusidae), in Costa Rica.
Salamandra, 4, 62
2026/04
Tran, D.V., Nguyen, L.T., Nguyen, P.T.T., Kaiser, C., Luu, V.Q., Kishikawa, K.
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Population size and microhabitat features of the crocodile newt Tylototriton pasmansi Bernardes et al., 2020 in northern Vietnam
Herpetology Notes, 19
2026/04
Sullivan, K.A., Klabacka, R.L., Catenazzi, A., Pérez Z, J., Venegas, P.J., Wood, P.L., Browne, D.C., Koch, C., van Leeuwen, J.P., Valdez, F., Nielsen, S.V., Bauer, A.M., Sites, J.W., Aguilar Puntriano, C., Greenbaum, E., Gamble, T.
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One if by land, two if by sea: molecular phylogeny and biogeography of the Neotropical leaf-toed geckos (Phyllodactylidae: Phyllodactylus )
Zoological journal of the Linnean Society, 4, 206
2026/04
Koppetsch, T., Burriel-Carranza, B., Glynne, E., Wipfler, B., Luo, X., Johnsen, A., Adams, D.C., Carranza, S., Matschiner, M.
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Phenotypic crypticity despite strong phylogenetic divergence: diversification dynamics in a species complex of Arabian Pristurus geckos
Evolution
2026/04
Aßmann, O., Böhme, W.
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Beobachtungen zum Droh-und Abwehrverhalten der Äskulapnatter
Feldherpetologisches Magazin, 23
2026/04
Ingenbrand, E., Thiesmeier, B., Böhme, W.
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Postmortale Blaufärbung bei Waldeidechsen mit Anmerkungen zu Farbabweichungenlebender Wald-und Zauneidechsen
Feldherpetologisches Magazin, 23
2026/04
Schmied, H., Böhme, W.
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Abfolge passiver Abwehrmechanismen einer juvenilen Barren-Ringelnatter –Bemerkungen zur Evolution der Thanatose bei westpaläarktischen Wassernattern
Feldherpetologisches Magazin, 23
2026/04
KAISER, H., KAISER, C.M., NISHIKAWA, K.
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Bufo praetextatus Boie, 1826 is a nomen dubium: an historical analysis of its original description supports the prevailing usage of Bufo japonicus Temminck & Schlegel, 1838
Zootaxa, 2, 5792
2026/03
Böhme, W.
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Nachruf auf ein DGHT-Urgestein: Dietmar Kiehlmann (1939 – 2026)
elaphe, 2, 2026
2026/03
Böhme, W.
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Das „ammodytes-Problem“
elaphe, 2, 2026
2026/03
Böhme, W.
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Ehrung für Wolfgang Bischoff
Sekretär, 1, 26

Employees

All employees

Dr. Elvis Almeida Pereira Silva
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
E-mail: e.silva@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Mark Auliya
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist
E-mail: m.auliya@leibniz-lib.de
Suraj Baral
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: s.baral@leibniz-lib.de
Ursula Bott
ztm Herpetology Bonn
Phone: +49 228 9122 249
E-mail: u.bott@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Böhme
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guest
Phone: +49 228 9122 250
E-mail: w.boehme@leibniz-lib.de
Michele Chiacchio
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: m.chiacchio@leibniz-lib.de
Dipl. Biol. Morris Flecks
ztm Herpetology Bonn
Phone: +49 228 9122 254
E-mail: m.flecks@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Rafaela França
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
Phone: +49 228 9122 253
E-mail: r.franca@leibniz-lib.de
Dipl. Biol. Timo Hartmann
ztm Animal husbandry Herpetology Bonn Animal keeper
Phone: +49 228 9122 274
E-mail: t.hartmann@leibniz-lib.de
Jens Hoberg
ztm Herpetology Bonn Volunteer employee
E-mail: jenshoberg@gmx.de
Dr. Sylvia Hofmann
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist
Phone: +49 228 9122 253
E-mail: s.hofmann@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Hinrich Kaiser
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guest
E-mail: h.kaiser@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Christine M. Kaiser
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guest
E-mail: c.kaiser@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Claudia Koch
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist
Phone: +49 228 9122 234
E-mail: c.koch@leibniz-lib.de
Paul Kornacker
ztm Herpetology Bonn Volunteer employee
E-mail: p.kornacker@leibniz-lib.de
Yasemin Kukla
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: y.kukla@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Markus Lambertz
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
E-mail: m.lambertz@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Angele Martins
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
E-mail: angelemartins@gmail.com
Eva Meyers
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: e.meyers@leibniz-lib.de
Dikansh S. Parmar
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: d.parmar@leibniz-lib.de
Inna Rech
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
Phone: +49 228 9122 253
E-mail: i.rech@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Jendrian Riedel
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
E-mail: j.riedel@leibniz-lib.de
PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist
Phone: +49 228 9122 252
E-mail: d.roedder@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Mirco Solé
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guest
E-mail: mksole@uesc.br